Large Navajo dangle earrings w/ turquoise & spiny oyster shell

Navajo handcrafted dangle earrings by artist Mary Cayatineto. They feature a single nugget style turquoise stone with a long piece of orange spiny oyster shell. Both are mounted in sterling silver with round twist surrounds. The simple design of the earrings really shows off the stones and shells. The have a medium weight with silve posts and backings. 

It comes attached to its original red pawn ticket.The term "pawn" refers to jewelry that has been pawned to brokers. The practice of pawning jewelry began in the early 1900s when Native Americans and traders would exchange jewelry for food and other necessities, it is still used today and is embedded in the Navajo culture. 

Material: Sterling silver, turquoise and orange spiny oyster shell

Tribe affiliation: Navajo

Time period: current 

Necklace measurements: 2" x 1/2"

(all measurements are approximate)